Editing QWERkeys UV printing

'''UV printing''' is a [[keycap printing]] process created by [[QWERkeys]], which permits printing full-colour legends onto keycaps of any colour.

==Description==
===Process===
For non-white keycaps, UV printed keycaps are first treated with a white base layer, onto which the legend is printed. A UV-cured, selective image protective lacquer is then added, supposedly hence the name.

The process is proprietary and full details have not been released. The colour printing process itself is not specified; it appears to be a diffusion pattern similar to that used in inkjet and solid wax printing. The colour printing resolution appears to be in excess of 300 DPI; the white base layer also has a dithered appearance that may contribute to the visibly dotted texture of the final print.

===Appearance===
Using the [[QWERkeys classic video game series]] group buy as an example, one observation of UV printing is that the colours can or do come out fairly dark; photographs taken with a flash tend to show the legends brighter than they appear under fluorescent indoor illumination. The legend has a high gloss surface, and is visibly embossed. The colour is produced using dithering of pigment inks, which gives solid colours a grainy appearance, but does permit multiple colours and the appearance of continuous tone, instead of the single colour typically allowed in double-shot moulding.

==Gallery==
The following keycaps are from the [[QWERkeys classic video game series]] group buy.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:QWERkeys UV printing -- assorted keycaps.jpg            | Assorted keycaps lit by camera flash
File:QWERkeys UV printing -- Exterior and interior.jpg       | Interior and exterior keycap surfaces
File:QWERkeys UV printing -- Surface printing detail.jpg     | Surface printing detail
File:QWERkeys UV printing -- comparison with double-shot.jpg | Comparison with double-shot moulding, showing the dark colour and raised printing (Pac-Man was mistakenly printed green in this example)
File:QWERkeys UV printing -- raised gloss surface.jpg        | The print process produces a raised, gloss surface over the design
</gallery>

==External links==
* QWERkeys — [http://www.qwerkeys.co.uk/keycap-info/legend-processes/ Legend Processes]

[[Category:Keycaps]]